Radical Baseball: Lefty batters 1950-2012 batting average (BA)

As documented here previously, righty/lefty splits are reliable only back to about 1950 when a high percentage of the data is derived from play-by-play data rather than from box scores. With box scores a batter's stats are attributed to the handedness of the starting pitcher.

I've used some of the cool new functions at baseball-reference.com to try to get a cross section of the best left batters from 1950 through 2012 using Ted Williams as my minimum criteria since he has the least data for a great batter during those years and I wanted Williams included.

There are four swipes. Note the batters who cross the categories.

Tony Gwynn is second in both pitching splits; Rod Carew is the only other in both pitching top fives. Here are the top fives. Cruise down to see longer, more detailed lists.

1. Batters throw lefty:
Tony Gwynn
Stan Musial
Todd Helton
Don Mattingly
Matty Alou

2. Batters throw righty:
Ted Williams
Wade Boggs
Rod Carew
Joe Mauer
Ichiro Suzuki

3. Pitchers throw lefty:
Ichiro Suzuki R
Tony Gwynn L
Stan Musial L
Rod Carew R
Larry Walker R

4. Pitchers throw righty:
Ted Williams R
Tony Gwynn L
Wade Boggs R
Joe Mauer R
Rod Carew R

1. Batters throw lefty:

1950 to 2012, Bats LH, Throws LH, (requiring batting_avg>=0.3 and At least 3000 plate appearances), sorted by greatest Batting Average

Rk	Player	BA	PA	From	To	Age	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Tony Gwynn	.338	10232	1982	2001	22-41	2440	9288	1383	3141	543	85	135	1138	790	203	434	24	45	85	259	319	125	.388	.459	.847	*98/7D	SDP
2	Stan Musial	.321	7964	1950	1963	29-42	1954	6839	1134	2198	423	69	329	1245	1034	127	497	32	7	53	161	34	31	.410	.548	.958	3798/1	STL
3	Todd Helton	.320	9011	1997	2012	23-38	2123	7565	1360	2420	570	36	354	1345	1295	184	1088	57	3	88	182	37	29	.419	.545	.964	*3/79D	COL
4	Don Mattingly	.307	7722	1982	1995	21-34	1785	7003	1007	2153	442	20	222	1099	588	136	444	21	13	96	191	14	9	.358	.471	.830	*3/D97584	NYY
5	Matty Alou	.307	6220	1960	1974	21-35	1667	5789	780	1777	236	50	31	427	311	38	377	36	55	29	101	156	80	.345	.381	.726	*8973/1D	SFG-PIT-STL-TOT-SDP
6	Rusty Greer	.305	4420	1994	2002	25-33	1027	3829	643	1166	258	25	119	614	519	16	555	22	6	44	91	31	15	.387	.478	.865	*79/8D3	TEX
7	Josh Hamilton	.304	3151	2007	2012	26-31	737	2825	471	858	173	19	161	553	263	46	620	24	1	38	47	43	13	.363	.549	.913	*87/9D	CIN-TEX
8	Hal Morris	.304	4443	1988	2000	23-35	1246	3998	535	1216	246	21	76	513	356	55	548	22	28	39	105	45	24	.361	.433	.794	*3/7D9	NYY-CIN-KCR-TOT
9	Mark Grace	.303	9290	1988	2003	24-39	2245	8065	1179	2445	511	45	173	1146	1075	114	642	34	17	99	192	70	48	.383	.442	.825	*3/1D	CHC-ARI
10	Will Clark	.303	8283	1986	2000	22-36	1976	7173	1186	2176	440	47	284	1205	937	155	1190	59	13	101	100	67	48	.384	.497	.880	*3/D	SFG-TEX-BAL-TOT
11	Al Oliver	.303	9778	1968	1985	21-38	2368	9049	1189	2743	529	77	219	1326	535	119	756	82	17	95	254	84	64	.344	.451	.795	837D/9	PIT-TEX-MON-TOT
12	John Kruk	.300	4603	1986	1995	25-34	1200	3897	582	1170	199	34	100	592	649	83	701	2	12	43	92	58	31	.397	.446	.842	*379/D8	SDP-TOT-PHI-CHW

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/25/2013.

2. Batters throw righty:

1950 to 2012, Bats LH, Throws RH, (requiring batting_avg>=0.3 and At least 3000 plate appearances), sorted by greatest Batting Average

Rk	Player	BA	PA	From	To	Age	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Ted Williams	.335	4443	1950	1960	31-41	1108	3485	716	1166	211	15	256	801	920	86	333	18	0	20	98	8	4	.474	.624	1.098	*7	BOS
2	Wade Boggs	.328	10740	1982	1999	24-41	2440	9180	1513	3010	578	61	118	1014	1412	180	745	23	29	96	236	24	35	.415	.443	.858	*5D/317	BOS-NYY-TBD
3	Rod Carew	.328	10550	1967	1985	21-39	2469	9315	1424	3053	445	112	92	1015	1018	144	1028	25	128	64	216	353	187	.393	.429	.822	34/D657	MIN-CAL
4	Joe Mauer	.323	4552	2004	2012	21-29	1065	3933	626	1270	247	20	94	587	555	96	475	17	4	43	130	43	15	.405	.468	.873	*2D/39	MIN
5	Ichiro Suzuki	.322	8723	2001	2012	27-38	1911	8085	1204	2606	308	80	104	660	518	173	813	49	33	38	69	452	102	.365	.419	.784	*98/D7	SEA-TOT
6	Joey Votto	.316	3064	2007	2012	23-28	728	2599	428	822	197	9	133	457	429	61	562	22	0	14	54	41	20	.415	.553	.968	*3/7	CIN
7	Larry Walker	.313	8030	1989	2005	22-38	1988	6907	1355	2160	471	62	383	1311	913	117	1231	138	7	65	153	230	76	.400	.565	.965	*9/387D45	MON-COL-TOT-STL
8	Robinson Cano	.308	5110	2005	2012	22-29	1214	4731	718	1459	334	28	177	715	285	49	604	48	10	36	153	31	27	.351	.503	.854	*4/D	NYY
9	Richie Ashburn	.308	8478	1950	1962	23-35	1918	7240	1160	2232	282	94	26	509	1080	25	511	41	99	18	75	193	92	.400	.384	.784	*8/794	PHI-CHC-NYM
10	Ralph Garr	.306	5456	1968	1980	22-34	1317	5108	717	1562	212	64	75	408	246	46	445	19	62	21	72	172	83	.339	.416	.755	*79/8D	ATL-CHW-TOT-CAL
11	George Brett	.305	11625	1973	1993	20-40	2707	10349	1583	3154	665	137	317	1596	1096	229	908	33	26	120	235	201	97	.369	.487	.857	*5D3/796	KCR
12	Tony Oliva	.304	6880	1962	1976	23-37	1676	6301	870	1917	329	48	220	947	448	131	645	59	14	57	139	86	55	.353	.476	.830	*9D/874	MIN
13	Mike Greenwell	.303	5166	1985	1996	21-32	1269	4623	657	1400	275	38	130	726	460	79	364	39	3	41	136	80	43	.368	.463	.831	*7/D982	BOS
14	Sean Casey	.302	5644	1997	2008	22-33	1405	5066	690	1531	322	12	130	735	477	69	577	62	0	39	156	18	8	.367	.447	.814	*3/D	CLE-CIN-TOT-DET-BOS

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/25/2013.

3. Pitchers throw lefty:

1950 to 2012, vs LHP as LHB (within Platoon Splits), (requiring batting_avg≥.3 for entire season(s)/career and PA≥1000), sorted by greatest Batting Average for this split

Rk	I	Player	Split	From	To	G	BA	BAtot	GS	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	BAtot	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip
1		Ichiro Suzuki	vs LHP as LHB	2001	2012	1051	.330	.322		2601	2416		798	94	23	24	193	91	33	137	228	.330	.322	.368	.418	.786	1010	15	16	16	16	28	38	.355
2		Tony Gwynn	vs LHP as LHB	1982	2001	1509	.325	.338		3523	3226		1048	153	24	51	404	71	43	238	167	.325	.338	.371	.435	.806	1402	102	14	22	23	25	52	.329
3	I	Stan Musial	vs LHP as LHB	1950	1963	887	.311	.321		2422	2132		662	119	19	84	371	8	7	253	196	.311	.321	.384	.502	.887	1071	49	14	5	18	19	30	.309
4		Rod Carew	vs LHP as LHB	1967	1985	1301	.310	.328		3314	2905		900	119	34	21	303	95	66	307	450	.310	.328	.376	.396	.772	1150	64	13	68	21	15	57	.358
5		Larry Walker	vs LHP as LHB	1989	2005	1171	.306	.313		2417	2109		645	137	20	90	426	62	28	219	392	.306	.313	.385	.518	.903	1092	44	66	2	21	2	31	.337
6	I	Richie Ashburn	vs LHP as LHB	1950	1962	797	.300	.308		2227	1906		572	59	22	7	121	42	20	274	204	.300	.308	.392	.365	.757	696	26	15	29	3	3	34	.333
7	I	Ted Williams	vs LHP as LHB	1950	1960	443	.298	.334		1083	878		262	48	2	35	154	3	0	193	120	.298	.334	.428	.477	.905	419	27	8	0	4	14	15	.312
8	I	Ralph Garr	vs LHP as LHB	1970	1980	614	.298	.306		1640	1529		455	58	16	8	86	40	32	72	163	.298	.306	.331	.372	.703	569	22	5	32	2	3	27	.329
9		Todd Helton	vs LHP as LHB	1997	2012	1270	.298	.320		2605	2238		666	129	9	66	374	15	5	316	399	.298	.320	.388	.452	.840	1011	70	27	3	21	16	25	.334
10		Wade Boggs	vs LHP as LHB	1982	1999	1344	.297	.328		3120	2740		815	130	17	29	331	7	7	327	290	.297	.328	.372	.389	.761	1066	77	12	17	24	12	38	.321
11		Mark Grace	vs LHP as LHB	1988	2003	1296	.296	.303		2872	2551		755	151	13	48	365	18	3	268	264	.296	.303	.363	.422	.785	1076	70	17	9	27	5	32	.312
12		Don Mattingly	vs LHP as LHB	1982	1995	1127	.296	.307		2728	2480		734	164	6	67	429	7	2	189	181	.296	.307	.344	.448	.792	1111	82	14	7	38	10	38	.294
13		Joe Mauer	vs LHP as LHB	2004	2012	698	.295	.323		1564	1379		407	61	2	19	189	13	6	152	204	.295	.323	.366	.384	.750	529	47	13	1	19	11	13	.330
14		Mike Greenwell	vs LHP as LHB	1985	1996	699	.293	.303		1518	1398		410	68	9	31	204	21	5	79	114	.293	.303	.338	.421	.760	589	46	24	2	15	2	20	.299
15		Rusty Greer	vs LHP as LHB	1994	2002	561	.293	.305		1166	1017		298	59	8	27	160	4	2	117	154	.293	.305	.369	.446	.815	454	16	13	5	14	1	19	.319
16		Sean Casey	vs LHP as LHB	1997	2008	807	.291	.302		1529	1376		401	75	4	34	211	4	1	115	199	.291	.302	.354	.426	.780	586	47	26	0	12	2	15	.318
17		Robinson Cano	vs LHP as LHB	2005	2012	765	.290	.308		1662	1521		441	82	8	50	235	5	8	93	232	.290	.308	.338	.453	.791	689	53	24	9	15	3	16	.312
18		Will Clark	vs LHP as LHB	1986	2000	1182	.289	.303		2704	2413		698	141	17	64	412	31	15	210	410	.289	.303	.349	.441	.791	1065	38	35	4	42	12	29	.320
19	I	Matty Alou	vs LHP as LHB	1961	1974	582	.283	.307		1411	1301		368	43	8	3	93	29	19	83	113	.283	.307	.329	.335	.664	436	29	9	13	5	4	22	.307
20		George Brett	vs LHP as LHB	1973	1993	1557	.280	.305		3868	3513		983	190	35	88	504	39	26	275	359	.280	.305	.331	.429	.760	1507	76	18	15	46	23	46	.288
21		Tony Oliva	vs LHP as LHB	1962	1976	840	.271	.304		2066	1923		521	70	14	38	265	18	14	90	239	.271	.304	.309	.381	.690	733	42	24	11	18	12	34	.290
22		John Kruk	vs LHP as LHB	1986	1995	694	.271	.300		1443	1253		340	46	8	20	180	8	10	167	269	.271	.300	.353	.369	.722	462	30	1	5	17	4	14	.326
23		Al Oliver	vs LHP as LHB	1969	1985	1280	.269	.303		3053	2843		766	138	20	54	397	11	17	139	354	.269	.303	.310	.389	.699	1106	82	37	10	24	11	48	.290
24	I	Billy Goodman	vs LHP as LHB	1950	1962	412	.258	.300		1095	955		246	31	5	3	80	4	8	107	84	.258	.300	.338	.310	.648	296	20	9	23	1	0	16	.280
25		Hal Morris	vs LHP as LHB	1988	2000	564	.252	.304		1053	943		238	47	1	3	100	4	4	77	192	.252	.304	.312	.314	.626	296	37	8	19	6	2	10	.312
Rk	I	Player	Split	From	To	G	BA	BAtot	GS	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	BAtot	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/25/2013.

4. Pitchers throw righty:

1950 to 2012, vs RHP as LHB (within Platoon Splits), (requiring batting_avg≥.3 for entire season(s)/career and PA≥2500), sorted by greatest Batting Average for this split

Rk	I	Player	Split	From	To	G	BA	BAtot	GS	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	BAtot	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip
1	I	Ted Williams	vs RHP as LHB	1950	1960	933	.347	.335		3250	2520		875	157	13	216	627	5	6	704	208	.347	.335	.489	.677	1.166	1706	73	10	0	16	99	28	.312
2		Tony Gwynn	vs RHP as LHB	1982	2001	2098	.345	.338		6709	6062		2093	390	61	84	734	248	82	552	267	.345	.338	.397	.471	.868	2857	159	10	23	62	178	87	.348
3		Wade Boggs	vs RHP as LHB	1982	1999	2203	.341	.328		7620	6440		2195	448	44	89	682	17	28	1085	455	.341	.328	.433	.466	.898	2998	159	11	12	72	168	93	.353
4		Joe Mauer	vs RHP as LHB	2004	2012	928	.338	.323		2988	2554		863	186	18	75	398	30	9	403	271	.338	.323	.425	.513	.938	1310	83	4	3	24	85	20	.353
5		Rod Carew	vs RHP as LHB	1967	1985	2112	.336	.328		7236	6410		2153	326	78	71	712	258	121	711	578	.336	.328	.401	.444	.845	2848	153	12	60	43	129	102	.359
6		Todd Helton	vs RHP as LHB	1997	2012	1935	.329	.320		6406	5327		1754	441	27	288	971	22	24	979	689	.329	.320	.432	.584	1.016	3113	112	30	0	67	168	57	.332
7	I	Stan Musial	vs RHP as LHB	1950	1963	1399	.324	.321		4590	3903		1263	252	35	203	716	14	23	640	251	.324	.321	.418	.562	.980	2194	109	15	0	32	177	43	.305
8		Hal Morris	vs RHP as LHB	1988	2000	1127	.320	.304		3390	3055		978	199	20	73	413	41	20	279	356	.320	.304	.376	.470	.846	1436	68	14	9	33	53	36	.340
9		Ichiro Suzuki	vs RHP as LHB	2001	2012	1706	.319	.322		6122	5669		1808	214	57	80	467	361	69	381	585	.319	.322	.364	.419	.783	2376	54	33	17	22	145	74	.344
10		Al Oliver	vs RHP as LHB	1968	1985	2023	.319	.303		6725	6206		1977	391	57	165	929	73	47	396	402	.319	.303	.360	.480	.840	2977	172	45	7	71	108	82	.317
11		Tony Oliva	vs RHP as LHB	1962	1976	1453	.319	.304		4814	4378		1396	259	34	182	682	68	41	359	406	.319	.304	.372	.518	.890	2269	98	35	3	39	119	52	.317
12		George Brett	vs RHP as LHB	1973	1993	2302	.318	.305		7757	6836		2171	475	102	229	1092	162	71	821	548	.318	.305	.388	.517	.906	3537	160	15	11	74	205	73	.317
13		Robinson Cano	vs RHP as LHB	2005	2012	1102	.317	.308		3448	3210		1018	252	20	127	480	26	19	192	372	.317	.308	.358	.527	.885	1691	100	24	1	21	46	31	.326
14		Larry Walker	vs RHP as LHB	1989	2005	1765	.316	.313		5613	4798		1515	334	42	293	885	168	48	694	839	.316	.313	.407	.586	.993	2812	109	72	5	44	115	41	.329
15		Roberto Alomar	vs RHP as LHB	1988	2004	2138	.314	.300		7439	6463		2027	371	65	140	824	372	85	777	703	.314	.300	.386	.456	.842	2948	153	29	91	79	47	85	.331
16		Don Mattingly	vs RHP as LHB	1982	1995	1555	.314	.307		4994	4523		1419	278	14	155	670	7	7	399	263	.314	.307	.366	.484	.850	2190	109	7	6	58	126	50	.304
17		John Kruk	vs RHP as LHB	1986	1995	1028	.314	.300		3160	2644		830	153	26	80	412	50	21	482	432	.314	.300	.416	.482	.899	1275	62	1	7	26	79	25	.348
18	I	Matty Alou	vs RHP as LHB	1960	1974	1399	.313	.307		4708	4396		1375	185	41	28	324	122	58	221	255	.313	.307	.348	.393	.740	1726	74	27	41	23	34	79	.326
19		Will Clark	vs RHP as LHB	1986	2000	1727	.311	.303		5579	4760		1478	299	30	220	793	36	33	727	780	.311	.303	.400	.525	.925	2497	62	24	9	59	143	49	.329
20	I	Ralph Garr	vs RHP as LHB	1968	1980	1097	.309	.306		3783	3548		1097	148	48	66	320	130	51	173	278	.309	.306	.342	.434	.776	1539	49	14	29	19	43	60	.320
21		Rusty Greer	vs RHP as LHB	1994	2002	950	.309	.305		3254	2812		868	199	17	92	454	27	13	402	401	.309	.305	.393	.490	.883	1377	75	9	1	30	15	37	.330
22		Mike Greenwell	vs RHP as LHB	1985	1996	1120	.307	.303		3648	3225		990	207	29	99	522	59	38	381	250	.307	.303	.380	.481	.861	1552	90	15	1	26	77	35	.307
23	I	Pete Rose	vs RHP as LHB	1963	1986	3136	.307	.303		11471	10051		3083	566	104	119	937	131	112	1209	845	.307	.303	.384	.419	.804	4214	151	94	31	60	112	137	.324
24	I	Richie Ashburn	vs RHP as LHB	1950	1962	1562	.306	.308		5837	4975		1524	204	68	18	348	140	84	764	290	.306	.308	.400	.386	.786	1918	45	23	60	15	32	75	.322
25		Mark Grace	vs RHP as LHB	1988	2003	2006	.306	.303		6418	5514		1690	360	32	125	781	52	45	807	378	.306	.303	.392	.451	.844	2489	122	17	8	72	109	64	.308
Rk	I	Player	Split	From	To	G	BA	BAtot	GS	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	BAtot	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip
26		Sean Casey	vs RHP as LHB	1997	2008	1297	.306	.302		4115	3690		1130	247	8	96	524	14	7	362	378	.306	.302	.371	.456	.827	1681	109	36	0	27	67	40	.319
27		Victor Martinez	vs RHP as LHB	2002	2011	1049	.304	.303		3239	2902		881	190	1	91	502	3	3	289	350	.304	.303	.366	.464	.830	1346	83	17	0	31	37	30	.317
28		Chipper Jones	vs RHP as LHB	1993	2012	2298	.303	.303		7686	6451		1956	402	26	361	1206	117	37	1144	1005	.303	.303	.405	.541	.947	3493	164	13	2	76	143	70	.309